The boat left downtown Beaumont on May 11th, loaded with leaders in environmental learning, government, and the community, and traveled up the Neches River to the site of the new South East Texas Environmental Learning and Research Center. The 1200 acre site for the Center is located just below Colliers Ferry Park and includes several miles of river front and wetlands.

Mayor Evelyn Lord started the event by announcing the City of Beaumont's exciting new partnership to develop the site. Other partners included in the program were Dr. Jimmy Simmons, President of Lamar University, Dr. Robert Krienke President of LIT, Ralph Rayburn, Assistant Director of Texas A&M –Sea Grant, Art Hutchinson, Superintendent of the Big Thicket National Preserve, Steve Buser, President of the Partnership of Southeast Texas and faculty leading various research efforts at the Center.

The completed project will include various learning and research facilities that promote the outdoors and environmental conservation. The initial phases of the project are projected to take about 10 years. It will result in a reception center at the site with a complex of other structures supporting environmental learning and research. Dr. Richard Bothel may be contacted at Lamar University for additional information--409-880-8209.

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Did you participate?

During last February's Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), bird enthusiasts across North America submitted almost 50,000 checklists totaling more than four million birds. The event, which documented the whereabouts of 573 species, showed a regional decline of at least one of those species that may be the result of West Nile virus.

It was fascinating to report your results and watch the map of the United States change as results came in. You can read more about this event and its results at:

http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/results/index.html

Mark you calendar now for next year's count: February 18-21, 2005.

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It's that time of year again...

They are less than 1/150 of an inch in their larval stage with a hairy red, orange or yellow body. Although larva have six legs and mouthparts including two pairs of grasping palps with forked claws, nymphs and adults are about 1/20 of an inch with eight legs.

That's right! If you have ever spend much time sitting or reclining on the ground when camping, picnicking, or working outdoors, you know this describes the common chiggers. These tiny pests attach themselves to tender skin areas to feed. Severe itching and small reddish welts are cause by their bite. Because chiggers are so small and hard to see, they are difficult to avoid. Only about two Texas species are annoying to humans. One lives in upland areas with grass, weeds, wild berry patches and forest underbrush. It even attacks birds, reptiles, and some amphibians. The other species likes moist habitats such as swamps, bogs, rotten logs and stumps.

The best prevention is to stay out of the woods because chiggers are common many places, but there are several repellents are effective against chigger infestations. They will usually contain pyrethrins, diethyl toluamide, dimethyl phthalate, dimethyl carbate, ethyl hexanediol and benzyl benzoate. The only good news is that these repellents work against mosquitoes and many other insect pests. Follow instructions and most repellents provide hours of relief from chiggers. For longer lasting protection wear loose-fitting clothes that are saturated with the repellent solution.

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Stay in Shape Outdoors

It does not take much to stay in shape with a short outdoor workout--10 minutes will do but 20 minutes is better. Pick you favorite trail or route around your neighborhood. The key to success is being conscious of the speed you are walking and movement of the rest of your body while you are taking your trip. Try this routine:

2 minutes: warm up walk at steady pace
1 minute: speed walk swinging your arms
2 minutes: steady walk
1 minute: skip
2 minutes: speed walk swinging you arms
1 minute: steady walk
1 minute: jog
Carrying one or two light weights with you as you walk can help to increase your workout. Doubling the routine above is best, but 10 minutes 3-4 times week will improve your health and increase your appreciation of the outdoors.

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Advisory Committee Meeting

The South East Texas Environmental Learning and Research Center Advisory Committee meeting will be at 10:00 am, June 25, in Room 109 in the Montagne Center at Lamar University. Important agenda items include the development of the South East Texas Environmental Learning and Research Center and the identification of key people to provide outdoor event information for Fun365Days.com. This committee meeting is open to members the general public who are interested in promoting the outdoors in South East Texas.

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Caught in a Thunder Storm ?

Why not take some of the time this summer that you are caught indoors waiting for the sun to appear after a South East Texas rain storm, to take an online class. You can start at any time and work at your own pace to complete a class. Visit the Web to find the latest class offerings at:

http://dept.lamar.edu/continuingeducation/online_learning/online_learnFR.htm